Wrench handle having detachable hand wheel and flexible shaft



May 5, 1953 T. E. HOFFMAN 2,637,233

WRENCH HANDLE HAVING DETACHABLE HAND WHEEL AND FLEXIBLE SHAFT Filed June 25, 1948 f7 J7 2.9 a# 3l INVENTR.

veydore/fmi Wm ATI'D R N EYB Patented May 5, 1953 WRENCH HANDLE HAVING DETACHABLE* y HAND WHEEL AND FLEXIBLE SHAFT f Theodore E. Hoffman, Van Nuys,

Application June 25, 194s, seriamo. sales 2 cia-ams. (c1. sir-filati.rvr

This invention relates to a socket Wrench.l

lt is an object of the present invention to provide .socket wrench having a flexible turning shaft which can be operated from a handle and to the outer end of which there can be connected detachable driving element either of a type to operate coaaiaily with the shaft or of a type to provide for a right angle drive in order to permit the wrench operate a nut extending to the side of the detachable head.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a socket wrench with a iiexible drive shaft `.and releasable head or coupling member, finch is of simple construction. inexpensive to manufacture and eiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understand ing of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a side elevational view of the wrench with portions broken away and with one form of head connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the driving Wheel and its connection with the driving shaft.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a connector for mounting the driving wheel and driving shaft on the handle and for securing a sleeve to the handle.

Fig. fi is a top plan View of the retaining elements shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one form of coupling head.

Fig. 6 is an end View of the coupling head shown in Fig. 5.

ig. l is a fragmentary sectional View of the end of the driving shaft.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional View of a detachable head having gearing to effect a right angle drive for the socket.

Referring now to the figures, I@ represents a handle having a reduced portion Il adapted to receive a ring l2. The reduced portion has an opening i3 into which may extend the end of a shaft ifi to which is xed a wheel l5 by a screw lli. The shaft lli extends forwardly and is so constructed that it can be flexed or bent. The outer end of the shaft is secured to a cylindrical journal having a reduced and squared end formation or stud il' thereon, as shown in Fig. 'l'.

A connector l@ has a half ring portion fitted about the ring l2 and a spaced tubular portion 2t connected to one end of a shaft-covering sleeve 2i. The half ring portion of connector i9 is secured to the ring and to the handle by fas- 3 ltoning screws; 22". v'Iherconnector i 9-v also` has van offset portion 23 which extends about the wheel i5 and joins the portion 24 to the half ring portion. :Surrounding the journal and square stud il of shaft i4 and secured to the sleeve covering 2l at its outer end, is a coupling ring 2l having diametrically opposite extensions 28 thereon for entering bayonet slots in a, portion 29 of an angle drive fitting 3l, as shown in Fig. 8. The angle fitting 3i has a cylindrical drive element or driving head 33 having in one end an axially extending square socket 312 for engagement with. the square stud Il. A detent 35 is provided in stud Il for maintaining its connection with the drive member 33. The driving member 33 has a bevel gear Sfwhich meshes with a bevel gear 31 on a transversely extending shaft 38. The shaft 38 has a Y-shaped formation di adapted to receive a socket or a nut as shown in Fig. 5 at d2. With the nut in place on the formation di, it can be turned or started on a threaded member.

If it is desired to have a straight coupling element secured thereto, there is provided a tting, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which comprises a cylindrical member or driving head fll having a Y formation 45 engaging with the nut 42 and having an opening for receiving the square stud Il.

It should be apparent that there has been provided a socket Wrench of the flexible shaft and sleeve type wherein the turning of the driving shaft can be effected at the handle and wherein different socket or nut retaining heads can be connected to the end of the driving shaft.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flexible socket Wrench, the combination which comprises a flexible shaft, a flexible sleeve extended over the exible shaft, a coupling ring carried by the outer end of the sleeve, a stud journaled in the coupling ring and carried by the outer end of the flexible shaft, a handle having a reduced portion thereon at one end thereof provided With a central opening to receive the end of the flexible shaft opposite to that end on which the stud is "positioned, a ring on said reduced portion, a connector having a half ring portion and a tubular portion, said tubular portion being connected to that end of the flexible sleeve opposite to that end on which the coupling ring is positioned, means for securing the half ring portion to said ring, an outwardly extending offset portion on the connector joining the half ring portion to said tubular portion and means connected to said flexible shaft for rotating said flexible shaft, said means being positioned between said tubular portion and said ring, and extending into said offset portion.

2. In a exible socket wrench, the combination Whichcomprisesa exible sha-fha exible sleeve extended over "the flexible shaft," a coupling ring carried by the outer end of the sleeve, a stud journaled in the coupling ring and carried by theV outer end of the flexible shaft-a handle; aligned f With and extended from the end `,ofi-the.,said flexible shaft and sleeve opposite totheend on which the coupling,r sleeve is positioned, a Ushaped bracket carried by the end of;;tl1e handleand having a hub on the outer end in Whichthe ilex-` ible sleeve is mounted, and a knurled disc vxediy mounted on said fiexiblelshaft and positioned in the U-shapedbracket'whereby the stud is rotated 4 through the flexible shaft and knurled disc by the thumb of a hand on the handle.

THEODORE E. HOFFMAN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

